Rotary press.



PatentedSept. 11, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

. J wucu l'o'a wffncooeo H. F. BECHMAN. ROIARY PRESS. APPLICATION HLED MAR- 26, 1915- RENEWED JUNE 30| I917- LMUMI Q; Patented Sept. 11,1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wanna; Q g X/ W. W 35% H. F. BECHIVIAN.

ROTARY PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1915. RENEWED JUNE 30.1QH.

1 ,QQQI Q. Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i w H m w. w (ma N H. F. BECHMAN.'

ROTARY PRESS. APPLICATION Fl-LED MAR. 2'6. 1915- RENEWED JUNE 30, 1917.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- mmwm.

Y TED STATES PATENT @FFlWE.

HENRY F. BECHMAN, OF BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOIt TO DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION. OF MICHIGAN.

ROTARY PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedlficept. fill, 11911 Application filed March 26, 1915, Serial No. 17,194. Renewed June 30, 1917. Serial No. 177,991.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BECHMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Presses, (4 sections wide and I hereby de clare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in rotary web printing presses and its object is to provide a novel press capable of great flexibility in product, so that it can deliver simultaneously, if desired, four separate papers from a single deck of printing mechanisms using two wide rolls of paper and four folders, and by employing larger plate cylinders, or additional printing mechanisms or decks, can deliver four larger papers simultaneously; or by employing additional folders can deliver a still greater number of papers. With a press embodying this invention practically one or more papers of any desired number of pages up to the maximum page capacity of the press can be produced; and any, number of papers up to the maximum number of folders employed'can be simultaneously produced; and the printed webs can be assembled in a great variety of ways so that a plurality of papers of the same or different sizes can be simultaneously obtained; and ordinarily two wide Web rolls will be sufficient for use in connection with each deck of printing mechanisms.

The invention is "especially designed to produce tubular plate presses of large capacity such presses employing the novel tubular plates such as shown in my Patent N01 867,230 dated October 1, 1907. And the invbntion in particular is an improvement upon the press shown in my application for patent on rotary press filed September 12, 1912, Serial No. 719,967.

To impart a clear understanding of the 1nvention I will explain same in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically presses embodying the invention having two similar decks of printing mechanism and related folding mechanism, and the invention when understood can be readily adopted by those skilled in the art and embodied in presses of various sizes and having various constructions of printing mechanisms and folders.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical side elevation of a press embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical top plan view of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing one arrangement of folding mechanisms.

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing another arrangement of folding mechanisms.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a similar but slightly different press embodying the invention.

In the example shown, each deck of the press contains'four printing mechanisms A, B, C, D. Each printing mechanism preferably consists of plate cylinders 1, 1 and coacting impression cylinders 2, 2 The plate cylinders may be adapted to carry any kind of .printing surface from which impressions can be taken upon a web passing between the plate and impression cylinders, and may carry selni-cylindric plates; but I prefer to use plate cylinders adapted to carry single page tubular plates such as shown in my aforesaid patent. The plate cylinders are provided with suitable inking mechanisms 3, 3, as indicated in Fig. 1; which may be of any desired kind adapted to supply ink to the printing surfaces of the plate cylinders in the usual manner.

The printing mechanisms A and C (Fig. 2) are preferably arranged in axial alinement transversely of the press, or line of travel of the web; and preferably the gearing for driving the cylinders is located at the inner ends thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2; the said cylinders being j ournaled in suitably arranged bearings onthe main frame of the press.

The printing mechanisms B and D are preferably arranged in the same plane as the mechanisms A and C but located at one side of said mechanisms as shown in Fig. 2 in such position that the cylinders in mechanism B lie intermediate the ends of the cylinders in the mechanisms A and C and the cylinders in mechanism C lie intermediate the cylinders of mechanisms B and D. This arrangement of printing mechanisms enables the mechanisms A, B, to print one wide web, and the mechanisms C, D, to print another wide web, and such webs can be led to and through the printing mechanisms without lateral deflection thereof. The webs may be supplied from rolls atone end of the press.

Preferably I use for each pair of printing mechanisms AB, (or CD) a roll of web as wide as the total number of side by side. plates on the plate cylinders in printing each web before it reaches the printing mechanisms. v

The mechanisms A, B, C, D, in each deck are so disposed that when said mechanisms 'are fully plated and full width webs are used both webs can be printed in passing through the press without any lateral deflection of any portion of the webs.

In practice the webs as W, W may be led over suitable guides from the web rolls to a roller 4 where they may be slit longitudinally by properly arranged slitters; and the portions w and w of the webs W, W maybe directed over a guide 4? to the printing mechanisms A and C respectively; while the portions 40 w of the web W may be directed over guides 4" and 4 to the printing mechanisms .13 and D respectively see Fig. 2. After being printed by mecha nisms A and C the parts w and w of the webs may be directed by suitable guides beneath the printing mechanisms to the folding: mechanism at the rear of the press; and the parts e0 w" of the webs after being printed by mechanisms'B and D may be similarly directed by suitable guides to folding mechanism at the rear end of the press.

The printing mechanisms are preferably so disposed that the ends of the printing cylinders in one mechanism preferably project beyond or overlap the adjacent ends of the cylinders in adjacent mechanisms, therefore if any three adjacent mechanisms are fully plated a single web wide enough to supply .all three of said mechanisms could be printed thereby with only the proper margins between impressions disposed transversely of the web. Such a wide web could be printed by mechanisms A, B, O, or B, C,

" D: Or a-web like W or W could be printed tion I am able to use wide webs, and print same by means of a series of short cylinders. The use of short cylinders enables the press to be operated at a much .higher speed than would .be practical if long cylinders and inking rollers were employed, especially where using tubular plates, and in the. latter case plating up and making ready of the press is greatly facilitated as thetubular plates can be readily placed on 'or removed from the outer ends of the plate 0 linders which are readily accessible from t e sides of the press, the gearing for driving the cylinders being arranged between the adjacent inner ends of the alined printing mechanisms and out of the way.

When only small papers are desired one or more of the printing mechanisms can be placed out of operation by declutching or shifting one of the gears by which power is transmitted to such mechanism from the main drive shaft. Or in case of injury to.

nisms that may be preferred by the press builder, such driving mechanisms being well known and entirely within the prov'nce of the press builder so far as the present invention .is concerned; 'but each printing mechanism in the press and each folder should be capable of being disconnected by slip gears or clutches from the driving means so that it can be put in or out of operative condition as desired. As such declutching or shifting gears are common in printing press construction and well. understood they are not illustrated. I preferably use four folding mechanisms a, b, c, d, one for each printing mechanism A, B, C, D, respectively. These folders may be of any well known type and are preferably provided with formers and folding rolls at the points of the formers. With the arrangement of folders shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the parts w of the web can be led without "lateral deflection from mechanism A to the folder a; theparts u; can be led from mechanism B to the folder 6; the part 10 from mechanism C to the folder c; and part w from mechanism D to folder d; and when so led each printed web can pass straight from its printing mechanism to its folder without lateral deflection, and four lotpapers could be simultaneously printed and anism can be directed to any of the folders; and this is readily accomplished by means of deflectors or angle bars located at suitable points in the paths of the printed webs between the printing mechanisms and the folders, over which angle bars or deflectors the webs can be deflected and led to the desired folder. As shown in Fig. 2 instead of having the folders a and d at the end of the press and in line with the mechanisms A and D, such folders are arranged at the sides of the press; and the web w maybe turned and directed over an angle bar or deflector 6 to the folder a, at the side of the press; and web 10 may be turned over an angle bar 5 and directed to the folder d at the side of the press.

Suitable deflectors or angle bars 5 5 5 parallel with the angle bar 5 may be provided by whichwebs w, w 10 can be directed to folder d. Also angle bars 6", 6, 6 ,parallel with angle bar 6 may be provided by which the webs 'w w w can be directed to folder (1. The arrangement of angle bars shown in Fig. 2 would enable any web to be led to any folder. If it is desired to give any web more than one quarter turn to direct it to a folder additional web guides could be provided.

In the arrangement shown in Figs 3 and 4 the folders w and d are arranged in a plane above the folders I) and c. The webs 20 w from mechanisms B, C, can be led direct to folders I), c as before; but the web 10 can be turned over angle bars 5 5 and then led over suitable guides to folder at located above the folderb. Similarly web 10 could be turned over angle bars 6, 6 and led over suitable guides to folder 01 above the folder 0.

With folders arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the web after passing the first fold rolls in one folder mightbe led over to and assembled with the web in an adjacent folder. Or a part of the Web after passing the first fold rolls in one folder might be led to an adjacent folder. Such assemblage of webs at the folders is eTrplained in my Patent No. 854,142 of May 12, 1907 and will be readily understood by pressmen without further detailed explanation thereof.

The press shown in Fig. 7 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 2 with the exception that the mechanisms B and C are spaced farther apart so that it would not be practical to print a single web wider than the two mechanisms A and C, or B and D, because of the separation between the said mechanisms B and C. The web rolls W and W however could be more readily set endwise in line. I I

The variety of products obtainable from this press will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art and it is unnecessary to explain in detail all the various sizes of papers or products obtainable from such a press equipped with four folders. The press is peculiarly adapted for using tubular plates, and I prefer to make the tubular plate cylinders only two pages long, yet, in the press shown, I can obtain the same results as would be obtainable with an ordinary press having plate cylinders eight pages long. In such a press all the tubular plates are readily accessible, and if any plate has to be changed it is only necessary to shift two plates at the most in order to make the change.

might be arthe press ad- Additional 'angle bars may be provided if desired to enable any section of any of the parts w, w 10 w of the web to be directed to any desired folder. The arrangement of folding mechanisms and angle bars can be varied according to the total page capacity of the press, the location in which it is to be used, and the number of papers which it is desired to have simultaneously delivered from the pre%.

I have thus far described the press as ifit was a single deck press, but it is obvious that its page capacity can be increased by supplying additional printing decks, which preferably correspond to that already described, such decks being superposed, and two being indicated in Fig. 1. When additional decks are used it is desirable to provide a set of angle bars as above described for each additional deck. It is not necessary to duplicate the folders however as decks are usually added-only when papers having more pages are desired.

If for example two decks are used and each printing mechanism in each deck is of four page capacity (using single page tubular plates on the cylinders) four eight page papers could be delivered by the folders a, b, c, d. If the plate cylinders carried semicylindric plates, so that each printing mechanism prints eight pages, four sixteen page papers could be delivered by the folders a, b, c, d. By assembling various web sections atsuitable folders papers of any desired size can be obtained. Also if desired a multiple of papers of the same or different sizes up to the total page capacity of the press could be obtained simultaneously.

The cylinders in the printing mechanisms A, B, C, D, are shown as of equal length and two pages longfso that the press is eight plates, or eight pages, wide; but obviously the cylinders may be made shorter or longer if desired. Also the several printing mechanisms may be of the same or difi'erent size, and need not all have the same length of cylinders, or all have the same total page capacity; that is the cylinders in one mecha nism might be longer or shorter than the cylinders in another mechanism. Assuming however that each plate cylinder in each mechanism is two pages in length the total width of a press using four such printing mechanisms in each deck would be eight plates'wide, as above stated; and two web rolls four pages wide can be used when operating at full capacity, this will greatly lessen the number of web rolls required to be handled in operating the press and saves time required for pasting and changing narrow width web rolls.

Four two-page wide webs; or two fourpage wide webs; or three two-page wide webs and one-two page wide web could be used simultaneously when operating at full capacity.

Another advantage of having the printing mechanisms arranged in the manner described is that it facilitates plating of the cylinders; and particularly when single page tubular-plate cylinders are employed, such for example as shown in my aforesaid patent, such plates being slipped endwise on and off the cylinders; if it is desired to change any plate in any mechanism it is only necessary to slip two plates on or off the cylinder, instead of four or more, and therefore this construction greatly enhances the speed of plating a wide press. Even when using semi-cylindric plates the short cylinders can be much more quickly plated than can long cylinders.

What I claim is 1; In a printing press, the combination of four printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, and adapted to print side by side webs or portions of webs, the alternate printing mechanisms being relatively laterally displaced.

2. In a rotary printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism, the alternate printing mechanisms being located in a plane beside the plane of the other printing mechanisms and parallel thereto.

3. In a printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, the cylinders in alternate mechanisms overlapping endwise.

4. In a printing press, the combination of. four printing mechanisms having their axes parallel the alternate printing mechanisms being relativelv laterally displaced, each adjacent pair of mechanisms being adapted when fully plated to print portions of the same wide web without lateral deflection thereof; with means for slitting a wide web before it reaches the printing mechanisms, and means for folding the printed webs.

5. In a printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged so in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mecha- 35 nisms but in axial parallelism therewith, the cylinders in alternate mechanisms overlapping, said mechanisms being adapted to simultaneously print narrow webs or portions of a wide web without lateral deflection 99 thereof, and means forv slitting the wide webs prior to printing.v

6. In a printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement, and the other two printing mechanisms-being arranged to one side of the first two' printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith fog said mechanisms being adapted to simultaneously print the narrow portions of a wide web without lateral deflection thereof, the ends of the cylinders in each mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the 195 cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms.

7. In a printing press, the combination of four printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being laterally displaced, the plate cylinders in said mechanismsbeing adapted to carry single page tubular plates, the ends of the plate cylinders in the alternate mechanisms extending slightly beyond the ends of the plate cylinders in theadj' acent mechanisms.

8. In a printing press, the combination of four .rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane,

the plate cylinders in said mechanisms be- 1 0 ing adapted to, carry single page tubular plates, two of such printing mechanisms being in substantial axial alinement, andthe other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism there- ,with.

being laterally displaced, the plate cylinders 1n sald mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates, the ends of the plate cylinders in the alternate mechanisms extending slightly beyond the ends of the plate cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms, the plate cylinders in said mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates.

10. In a printing press,the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being in substantial axial alinement, and the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelismtherewith, the cylinders in said mechanism being adapted to carry single page tubular plates, and the ends of the cylinders in each mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms; with means for slitting the web, and means for folding the printed webs.

11. In a printing press,the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement and the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, the cylinders in alternate mechanisms overlapping; said mechanisms being adapted to simultaneously print narrow webs or portions of a wide web without lateral deflection thereof; with means for slitting the wide webs prior to printing, and gearing for driving said mechanisms, the drive gearing for each two alined sets of printing mechanismsv being arranged at the inner ends thereof.

12. In a printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, two of-sueh printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement and i the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith; with gearing for driving said mechanisms, the gearing on each alined set of printing mechanisms being arranged at the inner adjacent ends thereof.

13. In a printing press, the combination of four printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being relatively laterally displaced;

with a plurality of folding mechanisms, and means for directing the sections of the web from the respective printing mechanisms to the respective folding mechanisms.

14. In a rotary printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms having their cylinders in axial parallelism, the alternate printing mechanisms being 10- of four rotary printing mechanisms arfor directing the sections of the web from the respective printing mechanisms to the respective folding mechanisms.

15. In a printing press, the combination of four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantiallv in axial alinement and the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to one side of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, the cylinders in the alternate mechanisms overlapping endwise; with a folding mechanism for each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism.

16. In a printing press, the combination of four printing mechanisms having their axes parallel the alternate printing mechanisms being relatively laterally displaced, each adjacent pair of mechanisms being adapted when fully plated to print portions of the same wide web without lateral deflection thereof; and means for slitting a wide web before it reaches the printing mechanisms; with a folding mechanism for each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism, and means whereby the web printed by any mechanism may be led to any folder.

17. In a printing press, the combination 106 ranged in substantially the same horizontal plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement and the other two printing mechanisms being arranged to oneside of the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism. therewith, the cylinders in alternate mechanisms overlapping, said mechanisms being adapted to simultaneously print narrow webs or portions of a wide web without 3131s lateral deflection thereof; and means for slitting the wide webs prior to printing; with a folding mechanism for each printing mechanism adapted to fold the web printed by such mechanism, and web guides and angle bars whereby the web printed by any mechanism may be led to any folder.

18. In aprinting press, the combination of' four rotary printing mechanisms arranged in substantially the same horizontal 12 plane two of such printing mechanisms being substantially in axial alinement and the other two printin mechanisms being arranged to one side 0 the first two printing mechanisms but in axial parallelism therewith, said mechanisms being adapted to simultaneously rint the narrow portions of a wide web withoutlateral deflection thereof, the ends of the cylinders in the alternate mechanisms extending slightly beyond a folder or folders at right angles to the first set of folders, and means whereby webs may be directed to the side folder or folders.

19. In a printing press, the combination of four printing mechanisms having their axes parallel, the alternate printing mechanisms being laterally displaced, the plate cylinders in said mechanisms being adapted to carry single page tubular plates, the ends of the plate cylinders in each mechanism extending slightly beyond the ends of the plate cylinders in the adjacent mechanisms;

--.-with a plurality of folding mechanismsin line with the printing mechanisms and 'to which the web can be directed from the related printing mechanisms without lateral deflection of the web, a folder or folders at the sides of the press, and angle bars whereby webs may be deflected to the side folder or folders.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. BECHMAN. Witnesses: v

IRVING K. STONE,

CHARLES A. GRAMEs. 

